HUMAN ANATOMY &

PHYSIOLOGY I

SKELETAL SYSTEM 2
BLOOD SUPPLY OF LOWER LIMB

DR WAN SAFWANI WAN KAMARUL ZAMAN

BLOOD FLOW THROUGH THE LOWER LIMB

 The arterial & venous blood flow of the lower limb is very
similar to the upper limb.
 ARTERIES OF THE LOWER
LIMB

• Main arterial supply for

lower limb is external iliac
artery – branch of common
iliac artery.

• External iliac artery travels

inferior to inguinal ligament
– femoral artery.

• Deep femoral artery – the

branch supply hip joint via
medial & lateral femoral
circumflex arteries.
 ARTERIAL OF THE LOWER
LIMB
 From proximal to distal,
femoral artery branch to give
rise to the following arteries:
 popliteal,
 anterior and posterior tibial,
 peroneal
 finally to the dorsalis pedis
feeding the vessels of the
feet.
 ARTERIAL FLOW
 External iliac

 As external iliac enters thigh it becomes the femoral artery

 Femoral artery gives off branches as it descends down the thigh

Deep femoral artery
           a. Serves posterior thigh
           b. Deep femoral artery gives off branches that supply head and
neck of femur
                        i. Lateral and medial circumflex arteries

 Femoral artery descends and passes through adductor hiatus and

enters popliteal fossa
 ARTERIAL FLOW
 Femoral artery becomes the popliteal artery
Supplies knee region
 
 Popliteal artery divides
 Posterior tibial artery
            a. Gives off peroneal artery
                       i. Supplies lateral muscles of the leg

 Anterior tibial artery

            a. Supplies extensor muscles
 ARTERIAL FLOW

• Anterior tibial artery

 Renamed – Dorsalis pedis artery

 Dorsalis pedis artery & a branch lateral plantar artery form

the plantar arch of the foot

 Digital arteries – extend form plantar arch & supply toes.

 VEINS OF THE LOWER LIMB

• Venous drainage of lower limb is through 2 groups of veins:

superficial & deep.

• The deep veins of the leg tend to run parallel to arteries and in
many cases have corresponding names.

• Superiorly they begin with the external iliac vein which then
branches into the femoral and deep saphenous vein.
 These vessels continue distally
to form the

• popliteal vein,
• small saphenous vein,
• anterior and posterior tibial
veins,
• peroneal vein and continuing
into the venous arch of the
feet.
 SUPERFICIAL VENOUS
DRAINAGE OF LOWER LIMB
• Dorsal venous arch – drains into great
saphenous vein & small saphenous
vein.

• Great saphenous – originates in

medial ankle & extends adjacent to
medial surface of entire lower limb
before drains into femoral vein.

• Small saphenous – extends adjacent

to lateral ankle & runs along posterior
calf before draining into popliteal vein.

• These veins have perforating branches

that connect to deeper veins.
DEEP VENOUS DRAINAGE OF
LOWER LIMB
• Digital veins & deep veins of
foot drain into medial &
lateral plantar veins.

• Medial & lateral drain into a

pair of posterior tibial veins.

• A pair of fibular veins travel

alongside fibular artery &
drain into posterior tibial
veins.
DEEP VENOUS DRAINAGE OF LOWER LIMB
• On dorsum of foot & ankle:

 deep veins drain into a pair of anterior tibial veins.

 Anterior & posterior tibial veins merge to form popliteal vein
- runs to anterior portion of thigh & renamed femoral veins.
 Femoral vein passes superior to inguinal ligament - external iliac
vein.
 External & internal iliac veins merge in pelvis – common iliac veins

• Left & right common iliac veins merge to form inferior vena cava